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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines


Adult and immature peach silver mites.

Almond

Peach Silver Mite

Scientific name: Aculus cornutus

(Reviewed 1/05, updated 1/05)

In this Guideline:


DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST

Peach silver mite is white or cream colored and extremely small. The body is teardrop shaped with four short legs at the larger (anterior) end. Because it is much smaller than other mites on almonds, a high power hand lens (15X or higher) may be needed to see it clearly.

DAMAGE

Peach silver mite is not usually damaging in almonds, although can cause symptoms if population build up on trees under 6 years old. Feeding by peach silver mite causes tiny chorotic spots that give the leaf a silvery appearance, especially along the midvein of the upper leaf surface. Symptoms resemble thrips or leafhopper damage. Brown, sunken spots sometimes develop along leaf margins following silver mite feeding early in the season.

MANAGEMENT

For the most part, peach silver mite is usually considered beneficial to have in the orchard because it serves as a food source for mite predators. Unless peach silver mite numbers are high enough that defoliation is occurring, no treatment is necessary.

Common name Amount/Acre**  
(trade name) (conc.) (dilute)  

 
A. WETABLE SULFUR# Label rates  
       
** For dilute applications, rate is per 100 gal water to be applied in 300-500 gal water/acre, depending on the label; for concentrate applications, use 80-100 gal water/acre, or lower if the label allows.  
# Acceptable for use on organically grown produce.  

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Almond
UC ANR Publication 3431
Insects and Mites
F. G. Zalom, Entomology, UC Davis
C. Pickel, UC IPM Program, UC Cooperative Extension, Sutter/Yuba counties
W. J. Bentley, UC IPM Program, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
R. L. Coviello, UC Cooperative Extension, Fresno Co
R. A. Van Steenwyk, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley
M. W. Freeman, UC Cooperative Extension, Fresno Co.
Acknowledgment for contributions to the insects and mites section:
R. E. Rice, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
L. C. Hendricks, UC Cooperative Extension, Merced Co.

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Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
All contents copyright © 2005 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/r3400411.html revised: May 20, 2005. Contact webmaster.